BSF Genesis Week 16 – The Notes are Good

BSF Genesis: Week 16, Day 5

Questions

13.
Everything – every possession, every friend all flocks, sons in law – But earlier on, they had lost their moral compass

14.
a.
When they hesitated, took them by the hand and led them out. Looked at Lot’s faith, not his application of that faith (2 Peter 2:7)

b.
what had been built burned up but the builder escaped through the flames

15.
Moabites, Ammonites: led into sin, wars, Included in Jesus family (Ruth); excluded from the assembly of God; but called to be redeemed

My Daily Journal

What a wasted life. That, to me, is what Lot really lost. We all are given hours and days on this earth. By how we chose to invest that gift, we bear fruit for God. In the New Testament parable of the talents, we desire to be a good and faithful steward. But isn’t time an even greater gift than wealth?

Lot spent his days surrounded by debauchery. There were so many “attractions” around him, that all in his care lost their moral compass. Instead of a compass pointing to the true north, theirs twisted into the pull from lots of different attractions. Lot’s loss did not come when the angels came, his days had already passed by then. It didn’t come from the destruction of property, it had never had value to begin with. It didn’t come from the death of his wife, she had died inside long before. We see how the education and training his daughters had received in this land lead to more sin. We should not be surprised, it is what they knew.

Lot was alone far before the angels arrived. He was seated alone at the gate of the city. When he invited the men to his home he did so alone. Unlike Sarah, there is no mention of his wife preparing bread. Every indication is that Lot served the men alone. He didn’t even have the bandwidth to leaven the bread with the extra time required to knead it and work the dough. He alone put together the meal. He had accepted faith earlier on in his life and that faith had not abandoned him, but his choices did not lead him to the community he sought – he served alone.

Like Lot we have all made bad decisions and we have wasted hours of our life in pursuit of sin. I don’t say this as regret but as a call that we can change. If an investment continuously loses money, we seek out a new investment. Should we do less with the hours of our life?

BSF Genesis: Week 16, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

11.
a.
The men came to force themselves on the men, Lot offered his virgin daughters, they pressed against Lot, SIL’s thought joke, no one in his family even helped prepare the meal – he only had influence over himself and not a great job of that

b.
When he moved there (Gen 13:13) people were wicked and sinning greatly, Gen 14, Lot carried away as captor, 14:122-24 Abraham’s response to King of Sodom when he returned Lot there

c.
Do not pitch tent along side wickedness. leads to more integration – If God pulls out of a bad situation, don’t go back

12.
Not gone back to Sodom after being captured. He must have chosen to go back.

My Daily Journal:

The convicting message to me was what signs and warnings has God graciously placed in my life that I am choosing to ignore and disobey. All along the choice to be in Sodom had been Lot’s. God didn’t send him there, he chose. He didn’t move in then wicked people move next door, they were there first. He not only lived by there, but he integrated into the community. There wasn’t a mention of a wife when he moved there, but now he is married and has children. His children were raised there. He has a home in town. He calls the men trying to rape and sodomize the angels his friends (19:7). But the signs of trouble had been there all along. God had pulled him out of the city in captivity then through Abraham rescued out of being a literal slave. But Lot chose his own slavery to being surrounded by sin.

What part of my life does God want me to flee? What warnings has He given me that I choose to deny and ignore?

BSF Genesis: Week 16, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

7.
Because God has chosen Abraham to be the father of his chosen people, to educate them that he would always preserve them and bring them back even after being reprimanded and for whom He would one day give His own life to save. To teach Abraham of God’s just mercy

8.
Consider carefully, measuring what we take in against the truth of the scriptures, to accept the spirit and hear the words given to Him. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:8

9.
God is not blind to injustice and horrific acts. He is just.
God is merciful, willing to forget horrific deeds for the well being of even a few10.

10.
a.
The angels themselves took Lot, his wife and daughters by the hand and led them safely. The Lord was merciful.

b.
For his and our education, to reveal His mercy.

c.
Yes – because he should have already known and trusted the Lord’s mercy from Egypt. No – because he sought it for others

d.
intercedes, gives us the words, also knows our hearts and offers intercession for all in accordance with the will of God

e.
Be more bold for others. Be more respectful in my tone. Seek the H/S for guidance and trust in Him

My Daily Journal:

Today I saw the beauty and appropriateness in Abraham’s “prayer”. I liked that the questions called it a prayer. What is a prayer but a discussion with God? So, clearly this was a prayer. But as I looked at it deeper it reminded me of the prayer of Moses and how Abraham and Moses (and, all believers I believe) share a single simple passion. They and we wish (long to) see and more deeply know the Lord. Abraham is not pleading for mercy for Sodom. He is not arguing a point of view or trying to convince the Lord to change His mind. Instead, the focus of his questions is on better knowing God’s character. Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? How far can the faith of a congregation of faithful shine light over the darkness of utter sin? How deep is your mercy and willingness to withhold justice? This really revealed the presence of the Holy Spirit in Abraham to me – that his heart was focused on God and not material possessions. Never once did he ask for the gold or livestock (think ahead to issues with King Saul).

BSF Genesis: Week 16, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

Questions:

3.
v10 “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” 17:21

4.
a.
The Lord and 2 Angels, 18:1, The Lord appeared to Abraham, v10 I will surely return…” v13 Then the LORD said

b.
went out to great them and bowed, washed feed, offered meal, Asked Sarah to make fresh bread, served veal, milk, cheese
5.
a.
Knew her thoughts as well as actions, convicted her of her sin (denial of the truth)

b.
Yes. (all is possible through the Lord), but it pleased God that she was faithful

c.
the Lord would fulfill his promises to her

6.
God’s promises are always fulfilled. He is a God of birth, birth of nations and kings, birth of His only son, birth of us into a new life in His family – God’s focus even in a mission of death and destruction is on new life

My Daily Journal:

One of the things that really stuck with me was how amazing is God’s love for us. Here He is, in the flesh, on a dire mission to judge the wickedness of an entire city. He knows the death that has already come to the people of that city and the utter lack of and love for Him found there. But, even with that gravity which had to be on His mind, His thoughts are first on new birth, His focus is on the future and the redemption He will bring.

As He so clearly demonstrated to Sarah, He knows not only what we make public but also the hidden thoughts we have. We try to pretend and cover that we haven’t sinned in our thoughts – they were just thoughts – but He gives no such slack. When Sarah tries to say she didn’t laugh, which from a human perspective may have been true since she only “laughed to herself and thought”. She didn’t say these doubt out loud, she didn’t laugh out loud, she repressed it and kept it inside. But the Lord gave no such compromise: “Yes, you did laugh.” (PERIOD). No negotiation, no argument over what the meaning of the word laugh means, no gray. Just a simple conviction: Yes you did.